The real estate market changes constantly, we know that to be true. Current situations, more so than ever, are forcing trends in the buying and selling of lots and houses. With the coronavirus changing how we operate inside our homes, as well as how many people are in our homes at one time, changes will need to be made in the future when it comes to designing and building houses. Sellers, as well, will need to be able to flaunt the flexibility of their homes’ spaces- is there room to add on a home gym? Are there enough bedrooms for multigenerational families to all live together?

Our lives are changing, and thus, so will the homes we live in. Read on for likely trends that will emerge post-pandemic, trends that we’re already starting to see now.

Post-Pandemic Real Estate Trends

• Upsizing
• More bedrooms
• Home offices
• In-home gyms
• Flex space
• Outdoor space

Bigger kitchens, bigger bathrooms, bigger bedrooms- did we mention big? Large is in charge as more people than ever are working from home. Make sure you have lots of space to exist in.

The Bigger, the Better- Upsizing

More people means you need more space

Perhaps the most obvious effect of the pandemic in terms of the real estate market has been its effect on who lives where and with whom. With college students now able to attend their colleges remotely and those just graduating returning home to work remotely as well, there are now more people than ever before in the average American household. Grandparents or those who need extra medical attention may be living with their sons and daughters who also have families of their own. With everyone living together, many houses are now becoming multigenerational, unlike the typical American nuclear family unit of the past.

If homeowners have young college students, they may be lucky enough to still have that spare bedroom set up from when their child left. But for a lot of folks, who maybe downsized after their kids went off to college, having everyone home again can turn into a bit of a claustrophobic nightmare.

The easiest way to fix these issues? Simply put- houses will need to be bigger and have more space for everyone who’s now living together. This means bigger kitchens, bigger living rooms, bigger basements- more room for everyone to breathe and not have to constantly be in the same spaces. Smaller houses may have a harder time selling in suburban areas, as young adults moving back home may not be too happy living in the basement for months.

Want to share this bed with your grandma? We didn’t think so. More people living together means houses will need more bedrooms to accommodate new family and guests.

Bedrooms for everyone

An offset of upsizing, but still important- more people means, well, more bedrooms!

While this may be implied by ‘upsizing,’ it still needs to be said again for the people in the back. As multi-generational living increases in our culture due to the financial and medical stresses of this pandemic, more bedrooms will be needed to house everyone under one roof. You likely don’t want to sleep next to your grandmother, and she really doesn’t want to sleep next to you either. Get more bedrooms, and this way everyone has a space to escape to if all the people are just too much. Plus, this way you won’t have to hear grandpa’s snoring!

Having a set space for work is so important for your productivity and well-being.

Home Offices

“Work from home” doesn’t mean “work from your bed”

More businesses than ever before are allowing employees to work from home in this time of crisis. This trend will likely continue long after the pandemic has ended, as working from home cuts down on commute costs and time, and so far hasn’t terribly affected productivity.

What this means for you, home buyer or seller, is that more people will want home offices. A desk set up in the corner of a bedroom won’t last you forever- established professionals and young professionals alike will want a room or large space all their own. Having a home office helps people keep a good work-life balance, with work solely in one room, and the rest of their life throughout the house. Make sure your properties have extra rooms that can be made into home offices- everyone will want them.

Get big- from the comfort of your own basement!

In-home Gyms

You can still get your dream six-pack at home- but only with the right in-home setup

With going outside not an option for some who are immunocompromised, in-home gyms are a way for them to still exercise and stay healthy without leaving the house. Even if you aren’t immunocompromised or worried about leaving the house, an at-home gym will become essential.

Staying healthy helps you keep a positive mindset, and those positive vibes are ever so important these days. The best way to stay healthy, besides eating right and getting enough sleep, is to exercise regularly. If you have an in-home gym, its mere presence will remind you to get those muscles moving! What better way to guilt yourself into health?

An in-home gym can be in virtually any room, but they’re usually set up in large, airy rooms that allow for lots of circulation. Basement in-home gyms are common, but in-home gyms can be created in any room you really feel like. A house with a premade in-home gym? That will become every buyer’s dream. Imagine moving in and right away being able to exercise from the comfort and safety of your home. That’s a huge selling point that will only get bigger post-pandemic.

Spaces can be used for so much more than we realize.

Flexible Space

Ever heard of a multi-purpose room?

You’re likely already familiar with the idea of a “flexible space.” Think of any room that you use for more than one function. Do you children have an art room that also doubles as a place to dry laundry on a clothing rack? Is the corner of your bedroom all decked out with a desk and chair and cute wall calendar, a makeshift little office? These are flexible spaces- rooms that are flexible in what they can be used for.

You wouldn’t sleep in the kitchen or bathroom- those are not flexible spaces. But pretty much every other room in your house can be doing more than it is. You can become the multi-functional queen.

Because everyone is spending more time at home than ever before, flexible spaces will become super important. Multi-purpose rooms allow for multiple people to complete or work on separate tasks in the same space, with enough breathing room so as not to be annoying.

In terms of how this affects a house’s selling potential, think bigger is better. Larger, airier, more open spaces will allow more room for multi-purpose functions. When selling a house, draw attention to what spaces can be used for. Highlight all the possible ways a buyer could set up a room. This will help them envision their whole family living comfortably in this space.

Entertain yourself and your family outdoors. The fresh air will do you some good.

Outdoor Space

Oh, the great outdoors of your own backyard

When the weather’s nice, sun in the sky, but you can’t go to an amusement park or concert, what should you do? Likely what people are already doing, and will only continue to do- hang our in their own yards! With everyone spending more time at home, the outside of the home will become almost as important as the inside. Nobody wants to hang out or sunbathe in a dirty yard- they want patios, they want decks, they want fireplaces.

Trends will lean towards more extravagant backyards. More patios, decks, and other outdoor entertainment areas will become a must-have for any house. Think built-in fireplaces to roast marshmallows over, or even fancy stone pizza ovens. If everyone’s at home, why not have a family barbecue every day of the week? Having the adequate backyard setup and furniture will draw buyers in, as they’ll be able to envision themselves having a blast while still in the safety of their own home.

The pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of our waking lives- even how we will buy and sell houses in the future. Post-pandemic, real estate trends will change to reflect the changing needs of the average American homeowner and family. Staying on top of these trends and anticipating them will help you better market and sell houses. If you’re buying, hey, now you know what extras you might want! The house has become more important than ever. Make sure you’re living in one best suited to your needs.